Hunting for Republicans in Paris

Just to take a break from our usual Bush bashing, I thought I'd point you towards an interesting article I found on Slate when I was looking around for some expat-related news. It details the author's quest to find some Republicans abroad in Paris, and what a mission it was (compared with finding Democrats, in any case):

Republican organizers have claimed, and several newspapers have dutifully reported, that they, too, are seeing an increase in overseas voter turnout, so I went looking for evidence. The Republicans Abroad Web site was a lost cause, a stark contrast to the Democrats Abroad site, which lists hundreds of activities in dozens of countries. In Paris alone, a Democrat can attend, in the next month, casual cafe meet-ups, elegant fund-raising dinners with guests-of-honor like author Diane Johnson (Le Divorce), a screening of Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism, and after-midnight parties to watch the presidential debates live.

All I could find on the Republican site was an e-mail address for the chairman of Republicans in France, who didn't reply to my missive. A call to someone listed as serving on the group's executive committee also went unreturned.

The night after Man Ray, I went to an officially bipartisan event at the American University in Paris. About 150 Americans turned up to watch a panel of three journalists discuss the election. CNN's Jim Bitterman kicked things off with an informal poll. First he asked how many people in the room were going to vote for Kerry, and virtually everyone raised a hand. Bitterman then asked who was voting for Bush, and four hands went up. He asked how many in the audience were Republicans voting for Kerry, and about five people raised hands.

Comments

[Jim]

Hmmm....most Americans who are in Paris are Democrats. Isn't this sort of like the late breaking news than most people who go to McDonalds like french fries?

Democrats solution to solving marraige problems: Go down the street telling all your neighbors that you spouse is a total idiot who abuses you. Then if you ever do try to work things our with him/her you're shocked to find that all of your neighors still think s/he's a jerk. Enjoy the America (oh I mean Bush administration) bashing parties in Pari.

[Jeff]

Don't you mean freedom fries?

[Jim]

;-)

[miriamg]

Here we go again. Apparently, people abroad are incapable of having an informed opinion of their own. It's only cos us America-hating expats slag off our country that they're critical of the Bush administration.

Jim, your analogy's bollocks and you know it. What's more accurate is to say that the Republican way of dealing with the situation where your best friend's in abusive, demeaning relationship, is to keep telling him/her that their lying, scumbag spouse is fantastic and they mustn't leave them.

You've no idea how much I've bigged up my home country over the years, and still do. As for the common misconception abroad that Americans are all mindless slavish Bush devotees who can't see what's obvious to 99% of the rest of the world, I leave that up to you on November 2nd.

Y'know, equating the Leader = the country is kinda old-fashioned. The French got rid of the guys who said "L'etat, c'est moi" a couple of centuries ago. Time you grew up too, n'est-ce pas?

[Jim]

See ya Nov. 2, Miriamg.

I'll be happy when Kerry is in Massachussets, Bush is in the White House, the world learns that history lasts more than 30 days, the Palestinians have a state, Iraq and Afghanistan have democracies, bin laden is caught or killed (if he isn't already) and the Lions win the Super Bowl. The last one is probably the least likely, but when the other come true it will be a good day.

[Jeff]

If I'm not mistaken, Kerry is already in Massachusetts and Bush is already in the White House. How this relates to any of the other things in your list, I'm not sure, particularly the Palestinian state where Bush hasn't bothered to even lift a finger.

[Chrish]

Actually Jim that would be The Bronco's win the
Super Bowl. :o)

[Jim]

Three years ago you might have heard from me. I'm an American living in Paris and was a registered Republican for 30 years, although I had a habit of voting independant. At about the time Bush was drumming up support for his war I changed my registration to Democrat. Probably about the same time this group was formed. I'm not a big fan of either party, but I am definitely ABB this time. I think Bush has tried to destroy everything America has stood for. Not that he'll get away with it but it may be years before America lives this down.

[Yonatan Weiss]

I'm soooooo thrilled Bush won. Perfect to put you wacko liberals in your place.

[Dirnov]

Greatings,
Amazing! Not clear for me, how offen you updating your expatsagainstbush.typepad.com.

Thank you
Dirnov